Window operated screen for automobiles



May 8, 1934. F. P. PRAWALSKY WINDOW OPERATED SCREEN FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 2.. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l r May 8, 1934. F. P. PRAWALSKY ,0

WINDOW OPERATED SCREENFORAUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 2; 19s; 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4' Patented May 8, 1934 WINDOW OPERATED SCREEN FOB AUTOMOBILES Fredrick r. Prawalsky, deceased, at. of Bernidji,

Minn by Bemidji, Minn.

- Application January 2, 1931, Serial (Cl. 156-39) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in window operated screens for automobiles, wherein it is desired to provide means for operating the screen into and out of position to replace the 6 opening covered by the glass in automobile doors and bodies by the automatic operation of the crank which operates the window regulating mechanism.

A feature of the invention includes the screen- 10 unit which is held removable within the casing as a whole, in a compartment which can be readily removed and replaced or repaired, as the case may be. It is an important feature that the screen unit is held collectively, so that it can be 16 quickly and easily removed from the door casing or body of the automobile.

'A feature of the invention resides in providing with the receiving member secured to the edge of the window pane. The narrow, flat construction of these engaging members permits the same to fit within the window guide channels on either 80 side and to abut each other in close relation so as to form a line joint when they are'connected together to form a neat and finished appearance.

It is also a feature of the invention to provide releasing means for the screen catch members,

which can be locked out of operating position so that the operation of the window pane in its respective guide channels will not effect the operation of the screen.

for holding the screen ordinarily concealed completely within its unit structure and housing with only the edge and the operating catches exposed.

The combination of the window panes and screen unit operating together in the same respective 46 guide channels on either side to cover the window space with any degree or portion of the window or of the screen, the respective parts operating together, are features of the invention which are of importance and by means of which there has 50 been developed a replaceable s'creen unit which is concealed in the automobile body and which is adapted to function with the glass in a most desirable manner.

Other features and advantages of the invention, together with the peculiar construction, will Suitable means is provided Martha Prawalsky, admlnistratrix,

be more fully and clearly set forth in the specification and claims.

In the drawings forming part of the specification: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automobile door or body portion showing the invention in combination therewith.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectionon the line- 2-2 of Figure 1. i

Figure 3 is a detail of a portion of the operating means for the screen and glass of the device.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the automobile door illustrating the screen and glass connected together, each of which covers a portion of the window opening in the door.

Figure 5 isa perspective view unit and housing.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a detail portion of the edge of the screen and attaching means.

Figure 'I is a detail of a portion of the glass or window pane illustrating the screen connecting means thereon, which forms thecomplemental edge for the automatic connecting means for the window and screen.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the screen similar to Figure 6, with the parts in a difierent position.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 5..

In the drawings the door A is of ordinary 5 well known construction, having a window opening B and a body portion C into which the window pane or glass D is adapted to be concealed when it is not desired to cover the opening B.

The window D is operated by the operating mechanism E which includes the operating crank 10, a set of connecting gears 11, an operating chain 12 and a chain connecting slide 13 which is connected to the bottom edge of the window D. This construction for the operation of the window is of ordinary well known detail and is operated by rotating the crank 10 which operates the chain 12 in a manner to raise and lower the window by means of the connection 13.

In the upper portion dow A there is provided a screen unit F which is held in cylindrical compartment 14 and which is provided with square end portions 15 so that the screen unit F can be concealed within the upper portion 16 of the door A. To remove the unit F 05 in its entirety from the frameportion 16 it is only necessary to take off the front plate 1'7, which covers the upper inner face of the frame 16 of the door A. Obviously, this same construction within the body and frame of an automobile can 110 of the screen of the frame of the winbe used just the same as herein shown as attached to the door A, thus no particular portion of the automobile body is shown, excepting the door herein illustrated.

It is an important'feature of the invention to provide the removable screen unit F which is removable in its entirety and can be replaced or repaired, as the case may be, after the unit has been removed from the automobile.

Suitable spring means of ordinary well known construction are employed to wind the screen within the cylindrical casing 14, so as to ordinarily keep the screen cloth 18 of the unit F wound tightly within the compartment 14 of the unit.

The outer edge of the screen 18 is adapted to project through the guideway 19 formed in the unit F so as to communicate with the compartment l4, and is provided with an attaching member 20 which is clamped firmly to the edge of the screen and which is of a flat, thin nature so as to permit the side edges 21, together with the edges 22 of the screen, to operate within the window channel guides 23 in the door A. The width of the screen 18 is practically the same as the width of the window pane D.

The attaching member 20 is provided with catch members 24 which are operated by suitable springs 25 from their pivot point 26, so as to hold the spring catches normally pressed inwardly toward each other, so that their shoulder or engaging edge 2'7 is held in close proximity to the line edge 28 of the connecting member 20. The spring catch members 24 are normally held in the position indicated in Figure 6, in which position they are ready for operation, so as to attach the edge of the screen 18 to the connecting member 29 secured to the upper edge of the glass D. The member29 is of a fiat, thin nature formed of metal or other suitable material, the same as the member 20, and is provided with openings 30 into which the engaging ends with the shoulders 27 of the spring catch members 24 are adapted to enter, so that the shoulder 2'7 will engage the inner edge of the openings 30 to automatically attach the edge of the screen 18 to the edge of the glass D when the glass D is operated 'by the handle 10 into position to cause the members 24 to enter the openings 30, and when the spring catch members 24 are in the position illustrated in Figure 6. The springs 25 permit the members to snap into the openings 30, which are operated into engaging position by the beveled or cam shaped ends of the members 24, to cause the same to enter the openings 30.

When it is desired that the window D be operated without operating the screen 18 to take the place of the window D, the engaging button 32 is pulled from the position illustrated in Figure 6; downward in the slot 33 to the position illustrated in Figure 8. The button 32 is connected by the links 34 to the operating rods 35, which are connected to the spring catch members 24. In the position illustrated in Figure 6 the links 34 extend upwardly suificiently to release the spring catch members 24 to their innermost position.

Whereas, in Figure 8, when the operating button 32 is moved into the position illustrated the links 34 assume an angular position just over the center of alinement with the rods 35 and in this position cause the rods 35 to extend outwardly against thelspring catch members 24 to move the same into released position so that when the window D is operated the spring catch members 24 will not engage in the operimgs'so, to cause the shoulder 27 to lock thespring catch members n the openings 30. The openings 30 are of suflicient length to permit the ends of the spring catch members 24 to enter therein, but in this released position illustrated in Figure 8, the shoulders 27 will not engage to lock the edge of the screen 18 and the window together.

In the position illustrated in Figure 6 the attaching member 20 will engage with the member 29 when the window D is operated into its upper position, so as to come in contact with the ment-,- bers 24 to automatically attach the window screen together, so that when the crank 10 is operated to reverse the window and cause it to recede into the body portion C of the door, the screen 18 will follow with the window as illustrated in Figure 4 and thus any degreehr portion of the window opening B can be covered by the screen or the glass in this position.

In the position illustrated in Figure 8 of the button 32, the window operation will have no effect upon the screen unit F and the screen is concealed within the frame so that the appearance of the automobile is practically the same as without the screen therein. However, by

changing the position of the button 32 to the position illustrated in Figure 6, the screen can be automatically picked up by the edge of the window D. This construction provides a very effective means of screening the openings in the doors and body of an automobile, providing a neat, attractive arrangement of parts and permitting the openings to be screened with wire -cloth or other suitable screening material when the glass is not desired for use. Other means of screening the openings have been used heretofore, but not of the desirable nature, operable in combination, as have been illustrated, with the window pane in the self-same channel which guides the edge of the window and of a removable unit for the screen which completely con- 11 5 ceals the screen therein and which can be attached or disengaged from the edge of the window proper when it is desired.

The screen is easily disengaged from the edge of the window by pulling the button 32 downbut rather adding a feature which is most desirable, owing to the fact that bugs and even dust and water can be precluded from entrance through the window openings by using the screening means, so that by the practical inexpensive construction which has been illustrated,

a means of closure for the window openings is provided which permits air to be circulated into the automobile, yet closes the window openings so that in the summer the fresh air can be readily enjoyed by the autoist without the discomfort of the mosquitoes, flies and other annoying bugs and insects, a feature which is highly desirable in the present extensive use of automobiles by tourists.

In accordance with the patent statutes there and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A screen attaching means for an automo- I bile windows-including, a U-shaped metal channel adapted to be secured to the top edg'f 'oi." La iwindow pane,

the bottom of the channel being spaced from the window edge, a second U-shaped metal channel member adapted to enclose the edge or a screen, means for automatically locking the channel memberswhen brought into contact in a window pane groove, and means for locking said locking means out of engaging position.

2. A screen attaching means for an automobile window including, a channel member of thin metal adapted to be-attached to the window pane, a second channel member adapted to enclose the edge of a screen, a plurality of means for autochannel members together contact in a window for collectively holdinoperative when dematically locking the when they are brought into pane channel, and means ing said locking means sired.

3. A screen attaching means for an automobile window including, a channel member adapted to be secured to the window pane with the bottom of the channel in spaced relation to the edge of the pane, holes in the bottom of said channel, an edge member for a screen, pivotal locking lugs on said edge member adapted to project through said holes to secure the edge member to said channel member and means for collectively holding said locking lugs inoperative when desired.

4. A screen attaching means for an automobile window including, a channel member adapted to be engaged to a window pane edge, the

bottom of the channel being spaced from the edge of the window pane, a reinforcing edge for a screen, locking lugs on said screen reinforcing edge adapted to extend through said channel member, means for unlatching said locking lugs, and means for holding said locking lugs collectively inoperative when desired.

5. A screen attaching means for an automobile window including, a reinforcing edge for a screen, locking lugs extending from said edge adapted to engage a window pane edge member, means for simultaneously disengaging said lugs, and means for locking said lugs out of operative position.

6. A screen attaching means for an automobile window including, a channel secured to a window pane, the bottom ot'the channel spaced from the edge of the pane, a reinforcing edge In a screen, a pair of hook-shaped lugs pivoted thereto, rods connected to said lugs, links secured to said rods, and an operating button connected to said links to pivot said lugs by means oi said operating button through said rods and links.

1. A screen attaching means for an automobile window including, a reinforcing edge for a screen, flanges on said edge for engaging the screen, locking lugs extending from and pivoted to said edge, rod means for pivoting said lugs in unison, link means plvotally connected to said rods for moving the same, and means adapted to be secured to the free edge of a window pane to which said lugs may look.

8. A screen attaching means for an automobile window including, a reinforcing edge for a screen, flanges for attaching the edge to the screen, pivotal locking lugs extendng from said edge adapted to engage a channel member upon a window pane, rod means for operating said locking lugs in unison, and link means connecting said rods to a common point, movable to operate the rods.

MARTHA PRAWALSKY, Administratrix of Fredrick P. Prawalsky, De-

ceased.

nus 

